Remodeling Insurance
Remodeling Contractor Insurance in Texas
Remodeling contractors face a risk most trades avoid: you work inside occupied homes. A water line you cap wrong, a wall you demo without checking for live wiring, or a dust event that contaminates a finished space can produce a claim against a customer who is living in the property while you work. Insurance for a Texas remodeling contractor has to cover property damage in an occupied structure, completed-operations claims from renovation defects, lead-disturbing work in pre-1978 homes, and the multi-trade exposure that comes with running a remodel from demo to finish.
The Exposures That Define Remodeling Work
A remodeling contractor is effectively a multi-trade GC working in a finished, often occupied, environment. You demo, frame, plumb, wire, finish, and paint — sometimes yourself, sometimes through subs — and each step carries the risk of damaging an existing, occupied structure. A cut sprinkler line, a nicked electrical wire, or an uncontained dust event can each produce a claim against a homeowner who is living in the space. Completed-operations exposure is high because renovation defects surface after move-in.
General Liability for Remodelers
Remodeling GL starts at $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate. Because you work in occupied homes, property-damage claims are more frequent and more personal than on new construction. Verify the policy covers damage to the existing structure (not just new work), includes products and completed operations for renovation defect claims, and does not exclude the trades you actually perform. A policy that excludes plumbing, electrical, or roofing work will not respond when your remodel touches those systems.
RRP Lead Certification for Pre-1978 Homes
Federal EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) rules require any contractor disturbing painted surfaces in pre-1978 housing to be RRP-certified, with a Certified Renovator on staff. Remodelers replacing trim, windows, doors, or walls in pre-1978 homes must hold RRP firm certification. Unlicensed lead-disturbing work is a federal violation and an uninsurable claim — carriers deny claims arising from work performed without RRP certification. If you remodel pre-1978 homes, maintain RRP certification and lead-safe work practices.
Workers' Comp for Remodeling Crews
Remodeling crews work in confined, finished spaces with demo, framing, and finish work, and they face saw lacerations, nail-gun injuries, and falls. Texas does not require workers' comp for private employers, but a remodeling shop without it puts the owner's personal assets behind every injury. If you use 1099 trade subs (plumbers, electricians, framers), collect their COIs naming you additional insured, or their uninsured exposure lands on your GL at claim time.
Subcontractor Management on a Remodel
Because a remodeler supervises multiple trades in a finished space, the sub-COI program is as important as your own coverage. Require every trade sub to deliver a COI showing $1M/$2M, additional insured via CG 20 10 and CG 20 37, waiver of subrogation, and primary/non-contributory wording. A sub whose policy lapses mid-remodel turns a covered exposure into an uninsured one on your GL — and in an occupied home, that exposure is personal.
What Homeowners and GCs Require
- General Liability at $1M/$2M minimum
- Additional Insured via CG 20 10 and CG 20 37 (completed operations for renovation defects)
- Waiver of subrogation and primary/non-contributory wording
- Coverage for damage to the existing structure, not just new work
- RRP certification if you work pre-1978 homes
- Workers' comp with employer liability for your crew and trade subs
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is remodeling insurance different from new construction?
You work in finished, often occupied structures, so property-damage claims are more frequent and more personal, and damage to the existing structure (not just your new work) has to be covered. You also touch multiple trades — plumbing, electrical, framing, finishing — so your policy must not exclude the trades you perform, and your sub-COI program has to cover every trade you bring in.
Do remodelers need RRP certification in Texas?
Yes, for work on pre-1978 homes. Federal EPA RRP rules require any contractor disturbing painted surfaces in pre-1978 housing to be RRP-certified with a Certified Renovator on staff. Remodelers replacing trim, windows, doors, or walls in pre-1978 homes must hold RRP firm certification; unlicensed lead-disturbing work is uninsurable.
Does remodeling GL cover damage to the existing home?
It should, but verify. Some policies are written for new construction and exclude damage to existing structures. A remodeler needs a policy that covers damage to the existing structure as well as the new work, because a cut line or a demo error in an occupied home is exactly the claim that defines remodeling.
How does a remodeler handle trade subcontractor insurance?
Collect a COI from every trade sub before they mobilize, showing $1M/$2M, additional insured via CG 20 10 and CG 20 37, waiver of subrogation, and primary/non-contributory wording. Track expiration dates and collect renewals before lapse. A sub whose policy lapses mid-remodel turns a covered exposure into an uninsured one on your GL.
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